Letters to the Editor 2/15

Charity at home

I’m a proud American and happy to donate to the Disabled American Veterans, the Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, cancer research and our local pet charities. I don’t have a lot, but even a few dollars helps.

Now Haiti needs help, and I am all for a few bucks. But what about our poor, starving and homeless right here in the USA? Still poor, still starving and still homeless.

Charity begins at home. But clearly, we somehow got it wrong and continue to do so. So to all of you Americans who have more than you will ever need, please give to our starving children. Adopt our orphans. Take care of your fellow Americans. We are tax-deductible too. Stand up, be proud and give to the USA.

Carlotta ClymerAtascadero

Cuesta’s resources

I read with concern your story about Cuesta College (“Cuesta faces a ‘very, very serious time,’ ” Feb. 5). I think our community college system is one of the best ideas for allowing citizens from all walks of life to advance toward the “American Dream.”

My concern is that none of the items listed in the “what the commission wants Cuesta to do” box made any mention of academic failings. I know Cuesta has been and, I think, continues to be one of the best community colleges in preparing its students to have success in continuing education or occupational advancement.

As a farmer, I completely understand the need for planning for the future. I also understand the prudent use of available resources. In this time of dwindling resources, it may be prudent to direct those available resources toward supporting teaching positions rather than toward administrative efforts to write papers explaining to the state that Cuesta College is doing the right thing.

Rollie CavalettoNipomo

People’s Legislature

What?! I had to read your article on the vote to seat Abel Maldonado as lieutenant governor twice, then refer to the Los Angeles Times to confirm it (“Assembly rejects Maldonado’s bid for lieutenant governor,” Feb. 12).

You mean to say that with a simple majority of the Assembly voting for his nomination, and the Senate approving it, Maldonado still isn’t confirmed because he didn’t get a supermajority of 41 votes?

I thought the Democrats supported majority rules. That’s their argument to get tax increases with a simple majority. But majority rule doesn’t apply if the wrong person is to be confirmed by it.

This goes to show you that the Legislature is ruled by full-time legislators who are mostly all lawyers, and the law is just what lawyers say it is, nothing more.

We need a part-time citizen Legislature like we used to have to put governance back in the office of the governor. The way out is less legislation, less expense, less knee-jerk partisanship and more government of, by and for the people.

Otherwise this state will hit rock bottom as soon as this year. And if you think 2009 was bad, just you wait!

Gary LeeCambria

Nuclear-free future

Many thanks to The Tribune for the front-page exposure of the tidal wave of nuclear industry cash that is fueling the nuclear “rebirth.” If this ever actually came to pass, it would drain taxpayers’ wallets and the national Treasury in chasing after the least effective and most expensive way to reduce carbon emissions.

It is unfortunate that elected officials who should know better are joining the dinosaur stampede to this public pocket-picking at the behest of the nuclear lobby.

In most of the world, it is now understood that the future belongs to renewables, co-generation and energy efficiency, not nuclear power.

More reactors are not the answer to global warming. Areva spokesman Jarret Adams stated wrongly in the article that “as you look at needs for clean energy and the need to protect the environment, there isn’t a solution without nuclear.”

Anyone who has bought into this belief should go to www.ieer.org/carbonfree/ to see an eye-opening blueprint for a carbon-free, nuclear-free future.